Tom’s guidebook
Coffee, Brunch and Cafés
When we are on holiday, we value a good brunch with a good coffee above all other meals!
Here's some great options that are walking distance from the flat.
Just off Brick Lane - a 5 minutes walk from the flat. This Australian-owned café does really good coffee and a decent all-day brunch menu.
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Nude Espresso
25 Hanbury StJust off Brick Lane - a 5 minutes walk from the flat. This Australian-owned café does really good coffee and a decent all-day brunch menu.
Best coffee on Whitechapel Rd. If you want to grab a coffee before getting on the tube at Whitechapel Station it's well worth the 2-minute detour.
19 lokalkjente anbefaler
Mouse Tail Coffee Stories
307 Whitechapel RdBest coffee on Whitechapel Rd. If you want to grab a coffee before getting on the tube at Whitechapel Station it's well worth the 2-minute detour.
Helps London's homeless and serves great coffee! Really close to Bethnal Green Tube station.
11 lokalkjente anbefaler
Second Shot Coffee
475 Bethnal Green RdHelps London's homeless and serves great coffee! Really close to Bethnal Green Tube station.
Bustley little corner cafe with great coffee and lots of good light breakfast options.
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Allpress Espresso Bar London
58 Redchurch StBustley little corner cafe with great coffee and lots of good light breakfast options.
If you're willing to go a bit further afield this kiwi-owned restaurant/café in a cavernous open warehouse-space has the best all-day brunch menu in town (imo). Expect to queue at least 10mins for a table on weekends.
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Ozone Coffee Roasters
11 Leonard StIf you're willing to go a bit further afield this kiwi-owned restaurant/café in a cavernous open warehouse-space has the best all-day brunch menu in town (imo). Expect to queue at least 10mins for a table on weekends.
Located inside Hackney City Farm (yes, there are pigs, sheep, ducks and geese onsite) this is a local's favourite for coffee and brunch/lunch. It's a bit kooky and definitely worth a look.
22 lokalkjente anbefaler
Frizzante
1a Goldsmiths RowLocated inside Hackney City Farm (yes, there are pigs, sheep, ducks and geese onsite) this is a local's favourite for coffee and brunch/lunch. It's a bit kooky and definitely worth a look.
Kahaila Limited
135 Brick LnGood for a coffee and a cake and close by on Brick Lane.
The Common E2
53 Old Bethnal Green RdGreat little café. Recommend the shakshuka.
This is a big, popular bakery that also has lots of seating and serves great food and coffee (in addition to great baked goods)!
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E5 Bakehouse
396 Mentmore TerraceThis is a big, popular bakery that also has lots of seating and serves great food and coffee (in addition to great baked goods)!
Favourite Restaurants
London has endless restaurants. We keep it pretty casual when we eat out: these are a few favourites.
Excellent modern Thai food in sleek and comfortable surrounds. Its all good food but the pick is the lamb shoulder (split between 2). It gets bustly (so maybe not ideal for a romantic date) and they only do bookings for large groups. Try to hit it outside of peak times and expect to wait a while for a table. You can have a drink in a bar (like Box Park around the corner) and they'll call you when the table is ready.
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Smoking Goat Shoreditch
64 Shoreditch High StExcellent modern Thai food in sleek and comfortable surrounds. Its all good food but the pick is the lamb shoulder (split between 2). It gets bustly (so maybe not ideal for a romantic date) and they only do bookings for large groups. Try to hit it outside of peak times and expect to wait a while for a table. You can have a drink in a bar (like Box Park around the corner) and they'll call you when the table is ready.
Mid-scale restaurant above a pub serving good British food. Can have a pint downstairs before or after the meal and there is outdoor seating on the terrace in warmer months. A good option for a romantic, but casual dinner - one of those places with a good local vibe.
95 lokalkjente anbefaler
Marksman Public House
254 Hackney RdMid-scale restaurant above a pub serving good British food. Can have a pint downstairs before or after the meal and there is outdoor seating on the terrace in warmer months. A good option for a romantic, but casual dinner - one of those places with a good local vibe.
So bloody cute and relaxed. You feel like you're eating inside a Portuguese Mamma's kitchen. Good for a coffee or glass of wine with some homemade Portuguese baked goods or sardines. They do a bit of a fuller menu on Friday and Saturday nights which is seafood focused.
9 lokalkjente anbefaler
A Portuguese Love Affair Limited
326 Hackney RdSo bloody cute and relaxed. You feel like you're eating inside a Portuguese Mamma's kitchen. Good for a coffee or glass of wine with some homemade Portuguese baked goods or sardines. They do a bit of a fuller menu on Friday and Saturday nights which is seafood focused.
This ever-popular Indian restaurant is a London institution. Spread across three levels (actually there might even be more, can't be sure) it's always busy - so book a table online if you are in a group. If it's just the two of you it should be fine to just rock up without a booking.
The Indian food here is better and cheaper than anything you'll find on Brick Lane. You can also bring your own alcohol which makes it among the best value sit-down restaurants in town.
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Tayyabs
83-89 Fieldgate StThis ever-popular Indian restaurant is a London institution. Spread across three levels (actually there might even be more, can't be sure) it's always busy - so book a table online if you are in a group. If it's just the two of you it should be fine to just rock up without a booking.
The Indian food here is better and cheaper than anything you'll find on Brick Lane. You can also bring your own alcohol which makes it among the best value sit-down restaurants in town.
A bit of a walk but the best, casual Vietnamese in East London. Gets busy at dinnertime (especially Thurs-Sun) and doesn't take bookings so expect to wait for a table.
49 lokalkjente anbefaler
BunBunBun Vietnamese Food
134B Kingsland RdA bit of a walk but the best, casual Vietnamese in East London. Gets busy at dinnertime (especially Thurs-Sun) and doesn't take bookings so expect to wait for a table.
This celebrated Israeli-British Chef has a handful of restaurants around London and this is the closest. They do a buffet-style lunch and sharing plates for dinner. The menu is modern, fresh and inventive - vegans are well-catered to. A bit fancy, but on the scale of fancy-eating places in London, it's still on the casual side.
You'll need a booking here.
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Ottolenghi Spitalfields
50 Artillery LnThis celebrated Israeli-British Chef has a handful of restaurants around London and this is the closest. They do a buffet-style lunch and sharing plates for dinner. The menu is modern, fresh and inventive - vegans are well-catered to. A bit fancy, but on the scale of fancy-eating places in London, it's still on the casual side.
You'll need a booking here.
Modern British food, upmarket (but not stuffy). A good option for a special dinner. We'd go here for a birthday or anniversary but you're on holiday so that's reason enough!
Make sure you book in advance.
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Bistrotheque
23-27 Wadeson StModern British food, upmarket (but not stuffy). A good option for a special dinner. We'd go here for a birthday or anniversary but you're on holiday so that's reason enough!
Make sure you book in advance.
The quality of the Chinese food in Chinatown (Soho) is variable but this place is great. Best dumplings and bun rolls we've found in London and very reasonably priced. If you're shopping in Soho or Oxford St, stop here for lunch or dinner.
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Imperial China
25a Lisle StThe quality of the Chinese food in Chinatown (Soho) is variable but this place is great. Best dumplings and bun rolls we've found in London and very reasonably priced. If you're shopping in Soho or Oxford St, stop here for lunch or dinner.
Things to do
Galleries, Parks and Markets!
You already know about the British Museum, The Tate Modern and Hyde Park (all highly recommended). Here are some lesser known faves.
A world class modern art gallery just around the corner...whaaaa?
Highly recommended.
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Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High StA world class modern art gallery just around the corner...whaaaa?
Highly recommended.
A hugely popular flower and plant market held every Sunday and only a 12 minute walk away. Even if you're not buying it's worth a visit: stall-holders haggling in Cockney accents, good coffee and cute independent homewares shops.
Optional add-on: grab a pint at The Royal Oak pub or a pasta at Campania.
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Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadA hugely popular flower and plant market held every Sunday and only a 12 minute walk away. Even if you're not buying it's worth a visit: stall-holders haggling in Cockney accents, good coffee and cute independent homewares shops.
Optional add-on: grab a pint at The Royal Oak pub or a pasta at Campania.
A busy street market held every Saturday. Think artisanal cheeses, vintage clothes, accessories, homewares and gifts. It's like Etsy left the internet.
For brunch or lunch there are food stalls or grab a table at Climpson and Son. London Fields Park is next door - it feels like everyone in East London is in the park on summer weekends.
Get a rooftop drink nearby at Netil360.
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Broadway Market
Broadway MarketA busy street market held every Saturday. Think artisanal cheeses, vintage clothes, accessories, homewares and gifts. It's like Etsy left the internet.
For brunch or lunch there are food stalls or grab a table at Climpson and Son. London Fields Park is next door - it feels like everyone in East London is in the park on summer weekends.
Get a rooftop drink nearby at Netil360.
If it's a hot day and you need to be in water, this outdoor swimming pool is the best option in East London. Swim some laps or just have a paddle and sunbake on the concrete (or in the park next door).
The front desk will usually lend you a pair of goggles for free.
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London Fields
London Fields West SideIf it's a hot day and you need to be in water, this outdoor swimming pool is the best option in East London. Swim some laps or just have a paddle and sunbake on the concrete (or in the park next door).
The front desk will usually lend you a pair of goggles for free.
Go south of the river to Bermondsey and check out this gourmet food market open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Check out the nearby White Cube Gallery, get a coffee at F*ckcoffee or a cocktail at Bermondsey Arts Club.
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Maltby Street Market
Maltby StreetGo south of the river to Bermondsey and check out this gourmet food market open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Check out the nearby White Cube Gallery, get a coffee at F*ckcoffee or a cocktail at Bermondsey Arts Club.
This is a well-known London destination that's not close but it made the list because it's amazing. It may be on the other side of the city but there's a direct train every 10 minutes from Whitechapel Station so it's super easy to get to- allow about 50 minutes.
A botanist's wet dream and great for anyone who likes strolling around beautiful parklands, with a bit of a history lesson thrown in. Don't miss the waterlily house (closed December - April).
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Kew Gardens station
Station ApproachThis is a well-known London destination that's not close but it made the list because it's amazing. It may be on the other side of the city but there's a direct train every 10 minutes from Whitechapel Station so it's super easy to get to- allow about 50 minutes.
A botanist's wet dream and great for anyone who likes strolling around beautiful parklands, with a bit of a history lesson thrown in. Don't miss the waterlily house (closed December - April).
Not many tourists make it to Peckham but it's a great part of London. This repurposed industrial site has lots going on: a nightclub, creative collectives and a rooftop bar with sweeping views across the London skyline... and a rooftop cinema!
Direct train every 10 mins from Whitechapel Station (go southbound on the Overground).
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Bussey Building
Not many tourists make it to Peckham but it's a great part of London. This repurposed industrial site has lots going on: a nightclub, creative collectives and a rooftop bar with sweeping views across the London skyline... and a rooftop cinema!
Direct train every 10 mins from Whitechapel Station (go southbound on the Overground).
The biggest and best park in East London. Space! Go for a stroll, meet friends for a picnic, feed the ducks, grab a coffee at the café. There is an artisanal food market inside the park on weekends.
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Victoria Park Market
Gore RoadThe biggest and best park in East London. Space! Go for a stroll, meet friends for a picnic, feed the ducks, grab a coffee at the café. There is an artisanal food market inside the park on weekends.
Bars and Pubs
There's so many but we've listed a few to keep an eye out for.
Great little pub. Cosy and modern feel. It also doesn't get as busy on a weekend as some of the other pubs around so you can be confident you will get a table and be able to hear the conversation.
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The Kings Arms
251 Tooley StGreat little pub. Cosy and modern feel. It also doesn't get as busy on a weekend as some of the other pubs around so you can be confident you will get a table and be able to hear the conversation.
Big rooftop bar next to London Fields Park with sweeping views over the London skyline. It's a younger, fairly casual crowd. A queue starts to form in the late afternoon on weekends, especially on hot days.
112 lokalkjente anbefaler
Netil360
1 Westgate StBig rooftop bar next to London Fields Park with sweeping views over the London skyline. It's a younger, fairly casual crowd. A queue starts to form in the late afternoon on weekends, especially on hot days.
Cocktails and Absinthe (or just a beer) in this eclectically decorated bar.
35 lokalkjente anbefaler
The Last Tuesday Society
11 Mare StCocktails and Absinthe (or just a beer) in this eclectically decorated bar.
This is a fancy pub with a lot of men wearing collared shirts but don't let that deter you too much. It's got a warm and inviting downstairs bar and there is also a restaurant upstairs.
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The Culpeper
40 Commercial StThis is a fancy pub with a lot of men wearing collared shirts but don't let that deter you too much. It's got a warm and inviting downstairs bar and there is also a restaurant upstairs.